Acute Specialist Clinics (Outpatients)

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Eastern Health Acute Specialist Clinics requires referrals via eReferral (HealthLink Smartforms) for practices with conformant software (Best Practice, Genie, Medical Director and MedTech Evolution).

Referrals can still be made by fax where referrers do not have conformant software. (eg- Zmed, and Helix). Fax number 9839 6733.

Referrals will not be accepted via email.

If you would like assistance in enabling this technology for your practice please contact the Eastern Melbourne Primary Healthcare Network (digitalhealth@emphn.org.au or if urgent 9046 0300).

For any queries relating to HealthLink SmartForms or to have this solution enabled within your clinical software system, please contact HealthLink on 1800 125 036 or Helpdesk@healthlink.net.

FAQ and more info: E-referrals to Eastern Health (DOC, 2.1MB)

If your question is still not answered, please contact Specialist Clinics Referral Management and Booking Team via 1300 342 255 or Eastern Health's GP Medical Liaison Officer.

Making a referral

Eastern Health Specialist Clinics has now switched to HealthLink SmartForms for receiving referrals from GPs. HealthLink is a secure, safe electronic channel for delivery of identifiable clinical information between healthcare providers. To access a guide, please view the following links:

Medical Director Quick Start Guide – Medical Director
Best Practice Quick Start Guide – Best Practice
Genie Quick Start Guide – Genie

Statewide Referral Criteria and HealthPathways Melbourne

The statewide referral criteria provide guidance to referring clinicians about which patients will be seen in adult public specialist clinics and what investigations are required to support triage.

If a referral does not contain the minimum required content it will be declined with written notification to the referring health professional.

An incomplete referral missing essential information must be resubmitted in full. Patients will not receive an appointment or be placed on an appropriate waitlist until a complete specialist clinic referral has been received.

The new statewide referral criteria are available across all Victorian HealthPathways websites. If you require login access to HealthPathways, contact info@healthpathwaysmelbourne.org.au. Alternatively, the statewide referral criteria can be viewed on the official DHHS website.

Referral process

Step 1 - Screening

Referrals for all sites are received by the central Specialist Clinics Referrals and Bookings Management Team
If you sent an eReferral, you will receive an immediate confirmation in your clinical software that it has been received

Step 2 – Triage and Clinical Prioritisation

Referral information is screened against state referral criteria and local health service acceptance criteria
Patients requiring an urgent consultation will be seen within 30 calendar days
Patients requiring a routine consultation will be seen at the next available non-urgent appointment or placed on a waiting list

Step 3 – Appointment/ Waitlist Notification

Patients will receive either a text or letter notification of their appointment details, or if they have been placed on a waiting list.
You will be notified if your referral has been accepted or declined by fax

Referral Concerns